He became the first British man to win a major gymnastics title when he clinched European gold on the pommel horse in 2010 ahead of team-mate Louis Smith. It followed his all-around silver medal at the 2009 World Championships in London.

Olympic history

2008 - 20th (all-around), qualifying round (all other events)

Career lowlights

He has twice suffered serious injury, latterly after tearing his cruciate knee ligament in March 2010. That training accident came just a few days after his historic European gold; he did not defend his title in 2011 as he was "still a bit rusty" after a year on the sidelines.

He fell from the high bar on his comeback in qualifying at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo - a mistake that contributed to Great Britain not qualifying for London 2012 at the first attempt.

He first required a year of rehabilitation after suffering three stress fractures to his spine during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Career background

Keatings' gymnastics career began by chance at the age of five. His father was a kick-boxer who wanted to get him into the same sport, but the local club said Keatings was too young to enrol in classes so he took up gymnastics to aid his flexibility before he was eligible to take up kickboxing. Needless to say, the switch never materialised.